pui4 nei5 tiu4 meng6賠你條命赔你条命
Jyutpingpui4 nei5 tiu4 meng6
Yalepùih néih tìuh mehng
Definition
No way I am paying you back, even at the cost of my life.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This phrase is a highly hyperbolic, aggressive retort used when someone makes an unreasonable demand for compensation. It functions as a way to mock the other person for overreacting to a minor mistake or a trivial loss. It is almost exclusively used in heated arguments or sarcastic banter between people who are already familiar with each other.
Examples
You want me to pay with my life? Keep dreaming!
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal settings or with strangers, as it sounds extremely confrontational and can easily escalate a conflict into a physical fight. It is not a literal offer of compensation but a rhetorical device to shut down an unreasonable request.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
